In case you haven’t noticed, Church ministry is hard.

Always a leadership decision to make. Always an event underway. Never a dull moment.

You’ve probably been caught in the cyclone.

What am I doing with my team? Where are we going? Who are we? Why does no one seem to have any passion for what we’re doing?

You lack a very important word that is essential to any effective organization or ministry.

Momentum.

Momentum is a nebulous force. How do we generate it?

And once we generate it, how do we keep it?

The hard part about momentum is it wears off…quickly.

Momentum starts with you, worship leader. Don’t expect your team to lead you. Rise up and take your place. You need a plan – a plan that captures the imagination of those you lead.

I thought of at least 5 ways you can build some momentum with your team today.

1. Be a student of those you lead

What are they passionate about? What lights their fire? It’s important that a distinction is made here. As a leader, you don’t want to exclusively cater to what your people want. That’s why you’re a leader. People don’t necessarily want to hear the Gospel. But they need it. As a leader, you need to lead people where God has called you to go. But that doesn’t mean it has to be boring and lifeless. Study who you lead and incorporate what they love into the schedule of your ministry.

2. Guard your passion

When you lose your passion for what you do, everyone sees it. And no one wants to be around it. You start barking orders rather than casting vision. You start abusing volunteers rather than making disciples. If momentum starts with you, you need to guard your passion. Revisit your “why” constantly.

3. Outline a year at a time

When it comes to a discipleship strategy, I find it helpful to outline a year at a time. Otherwise the year goes by and you’re asking yourself, “What the heck did I do this year?” Rather, at the end of a year take a day or two and brainstorm for the upcoming year. Sure, you will make changes along the way but this will enable you to enter a new year with vision and sustain you for the long haul.

For a step-by-step guide to crafting a worship team vision, check out my new free e-book, Beyond Sunday.

4. Connect with the mission of your local Church

So often we try and think through creative ideas on our own. We treat our worship team like it’s a ministry unto itself. But what is the mission of your Church? What is already on the schedule that you can lead your team through? Don’t simply view your worship ministry as a platform for what you want to do. Submit to your pastor and get your team connected to the mission of the Church.

5. Delegate

I’ll bet there are members on your worship team who are waiting to be unleashed. Future worship leaders, pastors, and world changers. They’re just waiting for someone to trust them, believe in them, and release them.

What are you doing right now that you could entrust to a team member? It may be just what they need to be inspired.

6. Do something creative together

The reason you have no momentum might be because your leadership has no sense of adventure. Think of creative ways you can lead out of the box. Go on a missions trip. Write a few songs together. Volunteer at a local soup kitchen together. Doing ministry together is the best way to generate and maintain momentum.

7. Catch and deliver a fresh word from God

The Word of God inspires. The Word of God convicts. The Word of God lights a fire in hearts. When you as a leader are constantly hearing and delivering a fresh word from God to your team, true momentum is unleashed. You don’t just want to do things in order to fill a calendar, right? You want to hear and obey what is on the heart of God for your Churches – for your city.

So slow down and make sure you’re listening.

How do you generate momentum in your team?

[Image via vivekchugh]